Overheating

I have got a 1999 blackbird that has a problem with overheating. The bike runs fine with not problems, but if I drive it on a hot summer day the temp shoots up to about the red line, not at it but just before it. The fan kicks on and when I get going the bike cools, but if I was to stop and turn off the bike coolant would come out of my overflow tube from the coolant container. I got no idea what could be wrong, if anyone has any information that could help me that would be great.

Last edited by TWEET; 11-14-2007 at 1:44 PM.
Reason: text size too large

Re: Overheating

When you calm down, try checking to see if your pressure cap is sealing properly and maybe have the system pressure checked at a radiator shop. My bike, an '01 with a digital temprature gauge, will get up to around 215 to 218 degrees at a stop light, up to about 230 in 15 minutes of stopped traffic. In neither case to I get coolant overflow or boil off.

Re: Overheating

+1 on the radiator cap. Mine had residue under the seal which let coolant overflow early.
Also make sure the radiator vanes are straight and clean. Did you buy her new? What coolant is in her? Silicate based coolants wear the waterpump seals and impeller. I think you can remove the hose from the pump and get a look inside.

these bikes run hot, and seem to do better at higher rpms (4K).
My 01 likes higher rpm's and at least 40 mph to cool well.

Re: Overheating

You know, thermodinamic of the fluids is large and very sensitive area.Sometimes it takes a lot of attention to solve the problem.
Riding under too high (also too low) temperatures could do a lot of harm to your bird, so don&#180;t leave fixing problem for ˝tomorow˝!
There are 2 reasons why temp. gauge is showing high temp.
1) temp. gauge is lieing
2) temp. is high
If temp. is high, there are 2 major reasons to it.
1) engine is generating too much heat, more than it should
2) engine is generating heat normaly, but the cooling system is malfunctioning, so it doesnt take the heat away
First check what can be easily checked visualy. If radiator is filled with dirt clean it with compresed air, DO NOT use water if not neccesary. If fields(dont know english word for it) on the front side of the radiator are bended so fresh air cant circulate thru it, put them straight using something like woodem toothpick. DO NOT use screwdriwer or any sharp metal object because you might damage radiator permanently. Make sure that all plastics around radiator are in their place. I had case on my ex bike that air was going around radiator instead thru it, all becouse of 50x200 mm peace of plastic was not where it was supposed to be.
If radiator is ok from the outside, check coolant level and make sure you dont have the ˝airbag˝ inside. Do not open hot, when you open it cold and start engine, coolant should circulate smoothly without bubbles. If bubbles apear your head gasket is dead.
If your temperature gauge is showing high temp, then radiator should also be hot when you touch it. If not, then coolant isnt circulating properly. That can be due to malfunction of themostat or water pump.
I could be writing about possible reasons and scenarios whole night ( not becouse Im too smart, Im only typing too slowly ha-ha)
Try checking this, or send more data, like how many miles you got on it, where you drive it( aint same driving it in Australia or Russia), city or open road.....
For any comments or questions send me pm
hope this helped

Re: Overheating

My 00 BB runs hot. Just had the bike serviced incl. replacement of the coolant, rode the bike home, got stuck in traffic and I'd say about half a cup of lime green coolant was expelled out of the overflow! Never happended before. And today, I could hear the coolant boiling.... never noticed this before, not even with a new 04 BB I used to own. Needle would be 1/2 to 3/4 on the gauge... fan starts when needle is 1/2 way.... but hearing the boiling sound when I bent down to remove some dirt off the fairing, this is somewhat concerning????

Re: Overheating

My 1999 bird had exactly the same problem. We tried all solutions above, no results......
To be able to go on a holiday, I mounted a manual switch for the fan, and switched it on most of the time. When that had a positive effect it got me thinking....
I concluded that the fan started too late, so the coolent started to boil before it could be cooled by the radiator. The thermo-switch for the fan was replaced (it's not expensive), and no more problems since.....

Re: Overheating

Although anti corrosion solutions (anti-boil anti-freeze) raise the boiling point of the coolant, it also causes the engine to run hotter than straight water.Too higher coolant to water ratio can cause the temp to rise dramatically, I would suggest draining the fluid and refilling as per the manual for your model.
DJM.

Re: Overheating

Just punchered my radiator and have removed it myself, pretty easy really. Shop is going to epoxy it they say this is all they can do. Does any body know the Antifreeze/water ratio weather 1 to 1 or straight from the bottle meaning full strength any help would be appreciated My bike normal to hard running, runs at 81 to 84 degrees and in traffic in town will rise to 104 degrees

Re: Overheating

I`m using 1:1 water:antifreeze ratio and it`s keeping temp in 1-st quarter of gauge, just a little bit over minimum. Don`t know how much is that in degrees. Fan starts running nearly half way to red zone. I`ve done most of my riding betwen 15 - 35 celsius degrees.

Re: Overheating

A couple of reminders, The hoses and clamps do loosen with age. I have experienced it, and have read of it more than once. If water vented through a hose, you may not have enough in the overflow to automatically refill the system.

I recommend checking all hose clamps, and the radiator coolant level every other oil change. Do it immediately if you overflow. You check your oil and gas levels, why not your coolant?

As stated earlier, I also had crud under my radiator cap seal. This lowers the pressure of the system, which lowers the boiling point. You may then overflow the overflow bottle. This may not give you enough coolant to automatically refill the system when it cools.